Christopher A. Foster

Christopher A. Foster, Denver, PA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20100107869

ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER POSITION SENSOR - A device for detecting the absolute position of a cylinder rod is provided. A cylinder assembly has a cylinder body with a gland member positioned thereof. The gland member has a rod opening extending therethrough. An adjustable sensor is mounted on the gland member, the adjustable sensor being operable to read one or more detectable features of the cylinder rod. The adjustable sensor can be incrementally adjusted relative to the cylinder rod to optimize the gap provided between the adjustable sensor and the cylinder rod, allowing the sensor to detect the motion and absolute position of the cylinder rod. The detectable features may be three tracks of data including first timing data and position data.

05-06-2010

20100288140

SENSOR FOR DETECTION OF WRAPPING ON BALE - A baling machine and method for forming a bale is disclosed. A sensor is positioned in the bailing chamber and is positioned to sense an area proximate the perimeter of the bale to determine if material is present, thereby determining if the bale is properly wrapped or not. When the bale is not properly wrapped, material is present in the area proximate the perimeter in which the sensor is active; causing the sensor to send a signal indicating that the bale is not properly wrapped.

11-18-2010

20100324778

Off-Road Vehicle with Redundant Non-Contact Multi-Revolution Angle Sensor - An off-road work vehicle has a steer-by-wire steering system having a device for determining the angular displacement of a steering wheel. The device has a cam configured to rotate about an axis at an identical angular speed as the steering wheel, a first sensor proximal to a facing outer surface of the cam and being configured to determine a distance between the first sensor and the facing outer surface of the cam, a second sensor proximal to a facing outer surface of the cam and being configured to determine a distance between the second sensor and the facing outer surface of the cam, and a processor operably connected with the first and second sensors and configured to determine an angular position of the steering wheel and a direction of rotation of the steering wheel based upon data generated by the first and/or the second sensor. The distance between each of the first and second sensors and the facing outer surface of the cam changes gradually over a first major portion of the facing outer surface and sharply over a second, minor portion of the facing outer surface. The two sensors are redundant to one another and help maintain the robustness of the system

12-23-2010

20110053385

FARM IMPLEMENTS WITH CAPACITOR FOR PEAK ELECTRIC LOADS - A farm implement towed or pushed by a vehicle includes at least one electrically actuated device mounted for operation and a high capacitance capacitor connected in circuit with the device and with a source of electricity on the vehicle. Electric power is supplied from the vehicle to the implement at a nominal rate to charge the capacitor and/or operate the device. The capacitor is selectively discharged to either supplement the electric power supplied by the vehicle to the device or to completely power the device such that the device is provided with electric power for operation at a peak rate exceeding the nominal rate electric power is supplied from the vehicle to the capacitor and/or the device.

03-03-2011

20110205084

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COORDINATING HARVESTER AND TRANSPORT VEHICLE UNLOADING OPERATIONS - A system and method for positioning a transport vehicle relative to a harvester is disclosed. The system includes an imaging device mounted on the transport vehicle and a control system for analyzing image data and executing a computer program to provide commands to position the transport vehicle in an acceptable predetermined condition relative to the harvester for discharge operations.

08-25-2011

20120215394

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL OF A HARVESTER AND TRANSPORT VEHICLE - A control system and method is provided to control a longitudinal position of a transport vehicle relative to a harvester during an unload on the go operation and to control both the lateral position and the longitudinal position of a transport vehicle relative to a harvester during an unload on the go operation to evenly fill a receiving area of the transport vehicle with crop material from the harvester. The longitudinal position of the transport vehicle is maintained within an acceptable range by adjusting the velocity of the transport vehicle. The receiving area of the transport vehicle can be more evenly filled with crop material by adjusting the lateral position and the longitudinal position of the transport vehicle within predetermined trim distances associated with the receiving area of the transport vehicle.

ARRANGEMENT AND CONTROL OF PRECOMPRESSION ROLLS IN BALERS - An improved baler and a method of using the improved baler to produce high density bales based on arrangement and control of compression rollers. The baler comprises a pick-up assembly configured to pick-up crop material; a rotary feeder; a compression assembly comprising at least one compression roller configured to generate a pressure on the crop material as it passes between the compression roller and another compression component in the baler; and a bale chamber, wherein the pre-compressed crop forms a bale. The compression roller and compression component define an adjustable gap therebetween. The one or more compression rollers and/or baler compression components may be located in various locations in the baler. By adjusting the gap, pressure exerted on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers and baler compression components may be controlled, resulting in bales of higher density.

01-03-2013

20130000496

COMPRESSION ROLLS ON BALER PICK UP - An improved baler and a method of using the improved baler to produce high density bales. The baler comprises a pick-up assembly configured to pick-up crop material; a compression assembly comprising at least one pair of opposing compression rollers configured to generate a pressure on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers; and a bale chamber, wherein the pre-compressed crop forms a bale. The compression rollers define an adjustable gap therebetween. By adjusting the gap, pressure exerted on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers may be controlled, resulting in bales of varying density.

01-03-2013

20130000497

BALERS AND METHODS FOR FORMING HIGH DENSITY BALES - An improved baler and a method of using the improved baler to produce high density bales. The baler comprises a pick-up assembly configured to pick-up crop material; a compression assembly comprising at least one pair of opposing compression rollers configured to generate a pressure on the crop material sufficient to crush the nodes as it passes between the compression rollers; and a bale chamber, wherein the crushed crop forms a bale. The compression rollers define an adjustable gap therebetween. By adjusting the gap, a pressure sufficient to crush the nodes of the crop may be exerted on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers may be controlled, resulting in bales of higher density than conventional bales.

01-03-2013

20130006481

COTTON MODULE TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD THAT ELIMINATES COTTON MODULE MARKING - A system and method for automatically identifying, locating, and tracking a cotton module that eliminates the necessity of physically marking or tagging the cotton module, such system and method using information such a location of the cotton module and a heading of a harvesting vehicle and a transport vehicle.

INITIATING TRACTOR STOP AND BALE WRAP FUNCTION - A combination tractor and baler is provided to automate tractor stopping and baler wrapping while incorporating operator interaction to improve the efficiency of the tractor and baler combination in operation. Automated control systems and manual operator devices are utilized to improve the timing of the tractor stop and baler wrapping time sequences. Various methods to improve efficiency, including methods to synchronize tractor stop with wrapping activation are provided.

05-09-2013

20140020352

INITIATING TRACTOR STOP AND BALE WRAP FUNCTION - A combination tractor and baler is provided to automate tractor stopping and baler wrapping while incorporating operator interaction to improve the efficiency of the tractor and baler combination in operation. Automated control systems and manual operator devices are utilized to improve the timing of the tractor stop and baler wrapping time sequences. Various methods to improve efficiency, including methods to synchronize tractor stop with wrapping activation are provided.

01-23-2014

20140100743

TRAVEL SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WORK VEHICLE - A travel speed control system for a work vehicle including a control device configured to control travel speed of a work vehicle operable in a first travel mode and in a second travel mode. The work vehicle is movable between a first travel direction and an opposed second travel direction in each of the first travel mode and the second travel mode. The first travel mode is configured to control acceleration of the work vehicle relative to an amount of force or movement of the control device. The second travel mode is configured to control speed of the work vehicle relative to an amount of force or movement of the control device.

04-10-2014

20140162740

DISCHARGE GUIDE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER - An agricultural harvester discharge guide includes a porous apparatus adapted for mounting to a discharge end of the agricultural harvester for guiding crop residue discharged from the agricultural harvester.

06-12-2014

20140278083

System & Method For Determining A Location Of An Unloaded Unit of Agricultural Product & Locating A Desired Unit Of Agricultural Product - A system and method for determining a location of an unloaded unit of agricultural product and locating a desired unit of agricultural product or identifying a candidate unit of agricultural product as a function of sensing system information indicating contact of the unit with the ground or other surface onto which the unit is unloaded, global positioning system or other location system information identifying the contact or related location, and heading information, which information can then be used to discern the unit from others at the location for desired loading.

09-18-2014

20140358466

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY UPDATING ESTIMATED YIELD VALUES - System and method which automatically updates estimated field and in-transit yield values as a function of estimated vehicle load values and correction values determined from more accurate yield values obtained later, such as at a processing or other receiving facility, thereby providing better estimates of yield values between yield monitor system calibrations.

12-04-2014

Patent applications by Christopher A. Foster, Denver, PA US

Christopher A. Foster, Adamstown, PA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20100274452

GRAIN TRANSFER CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A grain transfer control system, and method of use thereof, for automatedly controlling the transfer of grain from a mobile transferor-type vehicle, such as a combine harvester, to a mobile transferee-type vehicle, such as a crop transport, by varying the position and speed of the transferor-type and transferee-type vehicles relative to one another during the transfer operation, especially by varying the position and rate of walk of the discharge spout along at least a portion of the length of a grain holding receptacle of the transferee-type vehicle, to effect a generally even fill of the grain holding receptacle of the transferee-type vehicle along the length of the grain holding receptacle.

10-28-2010

Christopher A. Foster, Akron, PA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20090071143

Hydrostatic auto/manual speed control - A hydrostatic system and method of operation thereof, wherein at least one of a fluid motor and a pump of the system has a displacement which is variable for controlling a speed of operation of the motor, the pump being driven by an engine, and a controller configured for monitoring the speed of operation of the motor and an operating characteristic of the engine and automatically controlling the displacement responsive thereto, wherein if the operating characteristic is indicative of engine performance above a predetermined threshold, the controller will control the displacement for maintaining the speed of operation of the motor at about a predetermined value, and, if the operating characteristic is indicative of engine performance below the threshold, the controller will hold the displacement at a constant value. As a result, the controller can prevent the system from further decreasing the engine performance. And, if the engine performance increases to that or another threshold, the controller will automatically switch back to controlling the displacement for holding the motor speed at the predetermined value, optionally including to incrementally increase the speed to the predetermined value.

03-19-2009

20090312919

System and method employing short range communications for establishing performance parameters of an exemplar agricultural machine among a plurality of like-purpose agricultural machines - A system and method for enabling the communication to and establishment among a plurality of generally like and like-purpose agricultural machines designed to perform generally similar agricultural operations within a given area generally like performance parameters, especially based upon the performance parameters of a particular agricultural machine that is considered or deemed to be the expert or exemplar machine, which system and method employ short range communications systems included in or associated with the operating systems of the individual agricultural machines to effect the distribution of the exemplar performance parameters to the plurality of agricultural machines, through a peer-to-peer wireless network between and among the plurality of agricultural machines for point-to-point communications, for use by the individual agricultural machines in controlling and performing the agricultural operation.

12-17-2009

20100042297

System and method employing short range communications for communicating and exchanging operational and logistical status information among a plurality of agricultural machines - A system, and method of use thereof, for enabling short range intercommunication and the exchange of logistical information between and among a plurality of authorized agricultural machines that are designed to be operable in conjunction with one another to effect, as a specific identified group, a given agricultural operation, including a plurality of individual agricultural machines each of which has a communications control portion operable to transmit and receive short distance communications signals and each of which also has authentication credentials associated therewith establishing such machine's entitlement to share in the logistical information and to be considered and treated as a member of the specific identified group involved in the performance of the given agricultural operation, with such individual agricultural machines, when positioned in range of the short distance communications signals of the individual agricultural machines, forming a peer-to-peer network in which such individual agricultural machines are joined as group members and are operable to effect the distribution over a wireless bus of the peer-to-peer network of logistical information of a group member of such network.

02-18-2010

20100070145

System and method employing short range communications for interactively coordinating unloading operations between a harvester and a grain transport - A system, and method of use thereof, that employs short distance communications signals, thereby limiting and localizing the dissemination area for such signals, for interactively coordinating crop material transfer operations between a harvester and a grain transport, including the automated conduct of an unloading operation, including commencement of the actual unloading of the grain through continuation of such unloading to termination of such unloading, which system and method of the present invention employs operating systems in the harvester and grain transport that so operate to become electronically linked to one another to thereafter operate in unison with one another to effect and control the conduct of the crop material transfer operation between the harvester and grain transport, with each of such operating systems having associated therewith a short range communications system for the transmission and receipt at close range of electronic data signals, such operating systems, when appropriately electronically linked to one another, being operable in conjunction with one another to exchange information, to maintain a communications link therebetween, and to automatedly coordinate and effect various activities of the harvester and grain transport as a crop material transfer operation is effected and proceeds.

03-18-2010

Patent applications by Christopher A. Foster, Akron, PA US

Christopher A. Foster, Reno, NV US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20090239219

TELOMERASE EXPRESSION REPRESSOR PROTEINS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Telomerase repressor proteins and nucleic acid compositions encoding the same are provided. The subject repressor proteins bind to a repressor site in the TERT minimal promoter, e.g., a Site C site, and thereby inhibit TERT expression. Also provided are methods of modulating, e.g., inhibiting or enhancing, TERT expression. The subject invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including therapeutic and therapeutic agent screening applications.

09-24-2009

Patent applications by Christopher A. Foster, Reno, NV US

Christopher A. Foster, Carmichael, CA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20080268467

Methods and compositions for modulating telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression - Methods and compositions are provided for modulating, e.g., increasing or decreasing, the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). In the subject methods, the binding interaction of the TERT Site C repressor site with a Site C repressor protein complex made up of one or more proteins is modulated to achieve the desired change in TERT expression. A feature of the subject invention is that the target Site C repressor protein complex includes a MRG15 protein. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including the immortalization of cells, the production of reagents for use in life science research, therapeutic applications; therapeutic agent screening applications; and the like.

Christopher A. Foster, Lititz, PA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20130305658

METHOD OF TAGGING SQUARE BALES - A method and apparatus for inserting a tag into a bale of agricultural material is disclosed. The tag is inserted into the bale material, during bale production, such that the tag is within the bale material, but within reading distance of an outer surface of the final bale. In square bales, the tag is placed in either the first or last slice of the bale. In round bales, the tag is place in the outer circumferential layer of the bale as it is formed. The tag may be gravity fed or forcibly fed into the stream of crop material as it passes from the baling apparatus pick-up to the baling chamber. A system for identifying and tracking an individual bale is also disclosed.

11-21-2013

20140336818

CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR MULTI-ROBOT SYSTEM - A multiple robot control architecture including a plurality of robotic agricultural machines including a first and second robotic agricultural machine. Each robotic agricultural machine including at least one controller configured to implement a plurality of finite state machines within an individual robot control architecture (IRCA) and a global information module (GIM) communicatively coupled to the IRCA. The GIMs of the first and second robotic agricultural machines being configured to cooperate to cause said first robotic agricultural machine and said second agricultural machine to perform at least one agricultural task.

11-13-2014

20150040528

RESIDUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE - Residue management systems for an agricultural vehicle include a managing assembly configured to manage agricultural residue. The managing assembly includes a rotating member configured to rotate about a shaft that extends along a lateral axis of the agricultural vehicle relative to the direction of travel a frame configured to support the managing assembly. The managing assembly also includes a support arm coupled to the frame and configured to pivotally couple to a support structure of the agricultural vehicle proximate to a rear end of the agricultural vehicle relative to the direction of travel. The support arm is configured to facilitate movement of the managing assembly between a lowered operational position and a raised transport position.

02-12-2015

Patent applications by Christopher A. Foster, Lititz, PA US

Christopher A. Foster, Mohnton, PA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20140311365

ARRANGEMENT AND CONTROL OF PRECOMPRESSION ROLLS IN BALERS - An improved baler and a method of using the improved baler to produce high density bales based on arrangement and control of compression rollers. The baler comprises a pick-up assembly configured to pick-up crop material; a rotary feeder; a compression assembly comprising at least one compression roller configured to generate a pressure on the crop material as it passes between the compression roller and another compression component in the baler; and a bale chamber, wherein the pre-compressed crop forms a bale. The compression roller and compression component define an adjustable gap therebetween. The one or more compression rollers and/or baler compression components may be located in various locations in the baler. By adjusting the gap, pressure exerted on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers and baler compression components may be controlled, resulting in bales of higher density.

10-23-2014

20140331635

Compression Rolls on Baler Pick Up - An improved baler and a method of using the improved baler to produce high density bales. The baler comprises a pick-up assembly configured to pick-up crop material; a compression assembly comprising at least one pair of opposing compression rollers configured to generate a pressure on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers; and a bale chamber, wherein the pre-compressed crop forms a bale. The compression rollers define an adjustable gap therebetween. By adjusting the gap, pressure exerted on the crop material as it passes between the compression rollers may be controlled, resulting in bales of varying density.

11-13-2014

Christopher A. Foster, Mohntom, PA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20150264866

System for Coordinating Agricultural Vehicle Control for Loading a Truck - A system is provided that automatically assesses weight rating characteristics of a truck and trailer combination. The system coordinates movement and unloading functions of the grain cart to automatically load the trailer to correspond to a target total weight value and a target weight distribution value based on axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination.